Coin-controlled machine



March 24. 1925.

G. W. BENNETT COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE Original Filgd Jan 2, 1920 2 Sheets-Shae; l

March-24, 1925. I 1,530,414

G. W. BENNETT COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE 4 Original Filed Jan. 2, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Menu,

UNITED STATES.

1,530,474 PATENT OFFICE.

cnoaen w. BENNETT, or our raax, nminorsassidnoa 'ro Jorm r. IEYEB, or crncsoo, mmois.

commomnonnnh momma Original application fledlanuary 2, 1920, Serial No. 348,875. Divided and this application filed Inn: 19, 1922. Serial No. 569,573.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. Bnmrn'rr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Machines, of which the following is a specification. V

The primary object of this invention is to produce an electrically driven and coin-controlled machine that will operate for a period of predetermined length for each coin inserted.

A further object of the invention is to produce a machine of this type that will automatically start when a coin is inserted and will automatically stop when the predetermined period of operation is completed.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing showing a selected embodiment of the invention, and. in which- Fig. 1' is a fragmentary view of a cabinet machine made according to the invention with the front of the cabinet removed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the cabinet giving a view at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the coin receiving contacts;

Fig. at is a sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 1111 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the coin releasing device in a different posltion.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 348,875, filed January 2, 1920, in which I have shown the subject matter applied to a picture exhibiting machine. The invention, however, is not limited in its use to that character of machine and may be applied to widely dilferent uses.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a cabinet of suitable form having a drawer 6 located at the bottom to receive coins from a coin chute 36. An electric motor 7 is supported upon a partition 8 above the drawer and is supplied with current in any suitable manner. The armature'of the motor carries a worm 9 which drives a worm gear 10 on the main shaft 11 mounted in brackets 12 within the cabinet (Figs. 1 and 2). A belt 13 is driven by a pulley 14 on the main shaft '11 and is trained around a. pulley '15 on a counter shaft 16 which is used to drive any desired mechanism and which is supported in brackets 17, only one being shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A worm 18 on the counter shaft drives a worm gear 19 on the vertical shaft 20, which is supported in brackets 21 on the cabinet. A worm 22 on the vertical shaft drives a worm 23 on a horizontal shaft 21 which is sup ported in the brackets 25 on the cabinet.

A coin chute 26 is supported in the cabinet with its end 26 projecting through the top so that a coin may be readily inserted. The lower end of the coin chute terminates adjacent to a block of insulation 27 fastened to the cabinet and upon which the coin receiving contacts are mounted. These contacts (Fig. 3) comprise a pair of jaws 28, 28 pivotally'mounted at 29 upon the block 27 between their ends and normally held against stops 30 on the insulating block 27 above the pivots 29 by springs 31. The jaws are grooved at 32 to form a continuance of the coin chute and they are provided with outwardly projecting parallel lips 33.

A coin releaser and circuit closer ismount ed on the shaft 24 and it comprises a crosspiece 34 of insulating material capped at each end with a brass ferrule 35. The con struction is such that as the shaft 24 rotates the ferruled ends of the cross-piece 34 will be carried successively between the lips 33 of the jaws 28. The coin groove in the jaws tapers from the top to the bottom of the jaws so that a coin falling from the chute 26 into the 'aws will be held suspended thereby until t e jaws are separated sufficiently to permitthe coin to fall free therefrom. The grooves 32 may be formed tapered instraight jaws or the grooves may be straight and the stops 30 adjusted to permit the springs 31 to hold the lower ends of the jaws in closed juxtaposition, thereby forming a tapered groove. The lips 33 are also arranged to form a tapered space therebetween so that the cross-piece 34 may readily enter between the lips and force them apart on its continued movement. It will be readily understood that a coin deposited in the chute will pass down there through into the coin groove of the jaws and remain suspended therein until the aws have been separated sufficiently to release the coin and permit it'to drop into the chute 36 through which it passes Into the drawer- 6 (Fig. 2).

I contemplate providing a wall socket 58 of any suitable character in the back of the cabinet for making connection with an ordinary lamp circuit. The motor circuit comprises the conductor wires 59, 60 and 61, the wires 60 and 61 being connected to the jaws 28 and the circuit between the jaws bein established or closed by the coin or the errule on the cross-piece 34.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the machine driven by the motor will be at rest until a coin is inserted and as soon as the coin drops into the jaws thecircuit will be closed and the motor started. While the mechanism of the machine is being driven the shaft 24 is rotating to carry one end of the cross iece '34 into engagement with the lips 33 or the jaws and eventually the cross piece will separate the jaws sufliciently to release the coin, and allow 'it to drop through the chute 36 into the drawer 6. While the ferrule of the cross piece remains in operative engagement with the lips on the jaws, the circu1t will continueto be closed even after the coin is released and the parts are timed so that the circuit will not be broken until the end of a predetermined period, when the ferrule passes from between the jaws.

My invention is very simple In construction; it can be manufactured at low cost; it will not easily get out of order; and it is especially adapted for use in the manner customary with coin controlled machines.

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion and in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any advantageof the invention, and I I I therefore reserve the right to make all such changes as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a coin controlled machine, the combination of an electric motor, a pair of yielding jaws adapted to receive and suspend a coin, lips on the jaws, an electric circuit for the motor adapted to be closed when a coin is received by the jaws, and a device 0 erated from the motor for engaging said ips to separate the jaws and release the coin therefrom and for temporarily closing the circuit after the coin is released.

2. In a coin controlled machine, the combination of a motor, a circuit for said motor including relatively movable contacts adapted to cooperate with a coin to close the c1rcuit, and means for giving said contacts relative movement to open said circi it, said means closing the circuit through said contacts after the coin has been released.

3. In a coin controlled machine, the combination of a motor, a circuit for said motor including contacts adapted to cooperate witha coin to close the circuit, and means for automatically moving one of said contacts to terminate the cooperation between the contacts and the coin and for maintaining the circuit through said contacts for a limited time.

4. In a coin controlled machine, the combination of a motor, an electric circuit for the motor, a pair of yielding jaws in said circuit and adapted to receive and suspend a coin, said coin closing said circuit, and' 6. In a coin controlled machine, a pair of yielding jaws pivotally mounted for movement to and from one another, a motor, an electric circuit for said motor including said jaws, said jaws being adapted to receive a coin to close said circuit, and means to force said contacts apart to release said coin, said means maintaining said circuit closed by contacting with said jaws.

7 In a coin controlled machine, a motor, an electric circuit for said motor, pivoted jaws in said circuit yieldingly held apart and adapted to receive a coin to close said circuit, motor operated means to force said contacts apart to release said coin said motor operated means temporarily osing said circuit through said jaws.

8. In a coin controlled machine, a motor, an electric circuit for said motor, a pair of contacts for said motor normally spaced apart, said circuit adapted to be closed by a coin received between said contacts, and

' a revolving element adapted to pass between driven by movable contacts in said circuit and adapted to be closed by a coin therebetween, a counter shaft 'driven by said motor, and means said counter shaft to pass between said contacts to force them apart to release said coin.

11. In a coin controlled machine, a motor, an electric circuit for said motor, a pair of movable contacts in said circuit and adapted to be closed by a coin therebetween, a counter shaft driven by said motor, and means driven by sald counter shaft to pass betweenisaid contacts to force them apart to release said coin and temporarily maintain said circuit closed.

12. In a coin controlled machine, an electric circuit, a pair of contacts in said circuit and spaced apart, the circuit adapted to be closed through said contacts by a coin therebetween, and means to release said coin comprising an element adapted to pass between said contacts and force them apart 13. In a coin controlled machine, an electric circuit, a pair of contacts in said circuit and spaced apart, the circuit adapted to be closed throufh said contacts by a coin therebetween, an means to release said coincomprising an element adapted to pass between said contacts and force them apart, said means maintaining said circuit closed by engagement with said contacts.

14. In a coin controlled machine, a motor, an electric circuit for said motor, a pair of contacts in said circuit normally spaced apart, said circuit adapted to be closed by a coin between said contacts, and an element operated by said motor and adapted to pass between said contacts'to force them apart to release said coin.

15. In a coin controlled machine, a motor, an electric circuit for said motor, a pair of contacts in said circuit normally spaced apart, said circuit adapted to be closed by a coin between said contacts, and an element operated by said motor and ads. ted to pass between said contacts to force t em apart to release said coin and to temporarily maintain said. circuit closed.

' GEORGE W. BENNETT, 

